"Zoey, you don't have to—"
"I understand that you were trying to maintain appearances, and I—"
"Stop talking," Pia said forcefully, but her mouth quirked up in a grin as she shook her head. "I didn't come here for you to apologize to me. I came here to apologize to you. I handled everything terribly."
Zoey opened her mouth and Pia reached, taking her hand.
"Baby, just let me finish," Pia said.
Zoey’s heart warmed at the term of endearment, but she nodded, staring down at Pia's hand in hers.
"I want to say I'm truly sorry I ever thought that you had been anything but truthful towards me. You were always upfront about what you wanted, and what we were, and I disrespected that by accusing you of anything less than honesty," Pia said.
Zoey swallowed, her mouth feeling dry. She took another sip of her wine, clearing her throat and blinking back the tears that lingered at the edges of her eyes.
"I came here to ask you for your forgiveness, first and foremost," Pia said, her eyes searching Zoey's.
Zoey nodded. "I forgive you."
Pia exhaled as though a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
Zoey felt lighter, too.
Pia's thumb continued to draw a circle on the back of Zoey's hand. Even her most innocent touch still affected Zoey right to her core.
"I don't exactly know what the path forward looks like. My life is complicated, and your life is complicated, and you're still learning a lot about yourself, and so am I," Pia said, pausing as if she was trying to find the right words.
Zoey narrowed her eyes skeptically. "What are you saying?"
"What I am trying very hard to say and failing at miserably is just... I want to be with you. I want to figure it all out together," Pia said.
"Are you sure?" Zoey asked, thinking of her mistake, that horrible night in Dana Point, even the awkward phone call about Archer.
"Yes," Pia said firmly, squeezing Zoey's hand.
"You're really sure you want to give this a try?" Zoey asked, her brow still furrowed.
"Yes," Pia said, laughing.
"Even after everything that's happened between us?"
"Yes," Pia said, still laughing but looking exasperated.
"Why?" Zoey asked, unable to help herself.
"Because..." Pia paused, throwing her free hand in the air. "I love your moments of glad grace. I love the pilgrim soul in you, and the sorrows of your changing face."
Zoey blinked, too surprised to say anything. Pia was quoting their favorite Yeat’s poem.
"Why else would I be here, making a fool of myself, surrounded by candles in a place with sticky menus and not even one type of house wine?" Pia said, gesturing to the restaurant.
"I mean, the food is really good," Zoey laughed, shaking her head.
Pia stood, walking around the edge of the table to stand in front of her. "I love you, Zoey, and this is messy and complicated and scary and weird but it’s also exciting, and I want a future with you, whatever that looks like.” She paused, then added, “If you also want that."
Zoey laughed, joy coursing through her entire body, making her feel electric and light. "Me too," she said. "I want that, too. And I love you." Her voice softened as she stood to kiss Pia.
The bells on the door jingled and Zoey turned to see Domino and Meg sticking their heads in. "Did she say yes?" Domino called out.
"It wasn't a proposal, you creep," Zoey said, giggling.
"Close enough. Can we come in and eat now? We're still starving," Domino said.
"Dom," Billie scolded loudly from behind her.
A half hour later, Zoey looked down the table. The lights had come back on and the staff had been extremely lovely about accommodating her nosy friends who wanted to join them.
She was so happy, unbelievably so. She was surrounded by all of the women she loved most, who were all laughing and talking and eating delicious noodles.
And beside her sat Pia, their bodies tucked close to one another with Pia's arm behind her chair and her hand on Pia's knee.
Pia leaned in close. "I'm afraid that this restaurant may be just as good as mine," she whispered in Zoey's ear. "The competition is close."
"Maybe we should fly back tonight and head there immediately?" Zoey suggested. "Just to make sure we still like it."
"Two bowls of pho in one night? You’ll be bursting with noodles," Pia joked, smirking.
"Don't threaten me with a good time," Zoey teased.
"We just have to make one very important stop first," Pia said, her gaze dropping to Zoey's mouth.
Zoey smirked. "My place or yours?"
Epilogue
New Year's Eve
Zoey
Zoey awoke to Pia's hand gently shaking her arm. Pia was bent over her, looking both amused and concerned.
"Baby, are you already asleep?" Pia said, grinning.
Zoey blinked, rubbing her eyes. "Is it midnight yet?" She looked down to see that both dogs had joined her on the couch — Tulip tucked behind her bent knees and Cricket curled up beside her.
"It's 9pm, party animal," Pia said, shaking her head.
Zoey laughed, shrugging as she maneuvered her way into sitting up without disturbing the dogs too much. "Wow, how will you ever keep up with an old lady like me?" She joked.
"I brought you some tea," Pia said, sitting down on the couch beside her, pushing Cricket over a bit.
The fire crackled and gentle Classical was playing. The room was so cozy that it made her smile. Zoey sat up, snuggling into Pia.
"Where's the champagne?" Zoey asked.
"Oh, you think you can handle champagne?" Pia teased.
"It's been a long week," Zoey admitted.
The Shrikes had played a New Year's Eve festival earlier that day, and she was still tired from Christmas Eve with Sheila and Christmas Day with The Rush Family.
The band had been touring non-stop since October, and right before Christmas had been their first break. After the new year, they'd be off to Europe.
"You're sure you don't want to go out to any of the parties? Even Taylor Swift invited us," Pia said, her fingers moving aimlessly over Zoey’s arm, sending tingles up Zoey’s spine.
Zoey shook her head, kissing the soft spot behind Pia's ear. "I just want to be at home with you," she said.
The last five months had been a whirlwind. She and Pia didn't make public appearances together or answer questions about their relationship yet. They wanted to revel in the newness all by themselves. It felt nice, having their relationship as a safe space.
She saw how Billie and Vero fielded questions about their relationship non-stop, especially since their engagement.
Even Domino and Sabrina were asked personal questions about themselves on the red carpet.
The media was ruthless, especially about queer women.
Pia and Zoey had answered some form of, "We're keeping our relationship out of the spotlight," for the past few months. They weren't hiding anything. Zoey was unapologetically vague about her sexual identity — Vero had given her plenty of tips on how to answer those types of questions. She was still figuring it out, and she knew once she made a statement about it, that's how she'd be labelled forever. She was just as careful about that than any information about Pia.